Improvement in straw-cutters



W. G. HERMANCE.

Straw Cutter.

Patented .March 4, 1862.

Iva-05702117 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. HERMANOE, OF ALBANY, NEl/V YORK.

IMPROVEMENT |N STRAW-CUTTERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. HERMANCE, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and usef 111 improvement in the construction of strawcutters, which is less complicated than others while at the same time many of the working parts heretofore used are dispensed with, thereby making it simple and cheap, besides possessing other advantages, which will be set forth in the following specification.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing the mouth-piece of the straw-cutter with two upright standards or armsone near the center, and the other, which is at one end, is curved at the top. Both arms are provided with studs. On the curved-arm stud a link is hung, which has a pin cast on its lower end on which the knife hangs and works freely. Another link is suspended on the stud of the straight upright or standard, to which is cast a lever or handle forming an obtuse angle with said link, and combining a crank or 1e- Ver or bell-crank lever, in the angle of which a pin is cast to receive the knife. As the handle or bell-crank lever is moved up and down, a slashing cut is given to the knife working against the mouth-plate by a lever, thereby cutting the feed and straw in an ef fective manner, the friction of the knife being regulated by nuts on the studs. I The bellcrank lever gives a steady strong cut and requires but little power to work it.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, and to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, and certify that the accompanying drawings are a full and correct representation of the same, like letters corresponding with like parts.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the straw-cutter ready for use. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same, showing the bell-crank lever and knife raised. Fig. 3 is an end View of the same with the bell-crank lever and knife down. Fig. 4 represents the bell-crank lever or handle detached from the machine.

A is the frame or wood work of the machine; B, the mouth-piece; O, the straight upright standard; D, the curved upright standard, the top of which projects beyond said mouth-piece B E, a strap or link with an eye which works on the stud of curved arm D.

F is the knife Working on a pin cast on the lower part of the link E; G, the bell-crank lever or handle suspended to the stud on the straight arm 0 and having a pin cast at the angle to receive the knife F.

As the bell-crank lever G is moved up and down, the knife F, pressing against the face of the mouth-plate B, the nuts on the outer end of the stud on the arms 0 andD regulate the friction and keep it to its proper position.

I claim The combination of the bell-crank lever G, link E, knife F, and standards or arms 0 D, cast or secured to the mouth-piece B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

WVM. G. I-IERMANOE.

Witnesses:

W. S. KELLY, B. J. HAOKETT. 

